That month, I got praised a lot by my swordsmanship teacher as I had improved a lot. I told him that I wanted to win the spring festival and he created a specialised schedule for me so that I could catch up with the other boys my age.
A month later, on the day of the spring festival. My mother woke me up and Adrina was nowhere to be seen. My mother talked to me about how my father would be so proud of me if I could win today and then left me alone to wash up. I looked for Adrina in the entire house but after I saw no sign of her, I decided to wash up and get ready and then continue my search. After the other servants had bathed me and I got ready, Adrina knocked on my door. Still sleepy.
"What time is it? Do you know how I looked for you everywhere." I had gotten a little frustrated because the thought that my father could send her away any time troubled me. "I'm sorry, young master. I slept in." In my entirety of life as a twelve year old, she had never slept in. She would be up before the stars and clean her house that was falling apart then come to wake me up. I let it go that day because she looked tired.
"I'm going to make the other boys lick my feet today." I said on the way to the festival, in the carriage. I had begged my mother to let her go with us. She wore an old dress that belonged to my older sister who had discarded it because of a small tea stain near the frill. She looked beautiful. It was as if that dress was made for her. I had once promised her that when we grew up, I would marry her and bring her the most beautiful dresses from the best royal designers. Like the ones my father brought to my mother.
When we reached there, the entire place was decorated with hundreds of stalls, moon and star shaped hanging decorations and most importantly, flowers. The rich families looked around the stalls with their kids and their servants followed them in the back with their heads bent towards the ground.
I don't have many recounts of that day. The details are hazy. Zayden had made Ren who was a loyal follower of his challenge me to the fight and he had threatened to discard him from his group if he lost. Ren was around my age but he was one of those kids who looked older and stronger than they were. But my teacher had told me that mental strength mattered more in sword fighting.
I, for the first time in my life, sent his sword flying away and won. People clapped for me and I wondered if my father was in that crowd too. I looked at Adrina and all she did was smile. I wanted to embrace her and tell her I would never let her go but there were so many people around and she was a mere servant.
I could see Zaydan scoff in the background as my mother kissed me on my cheek and I heard the words for the first time in my life "I'm so proud of you" from my father.
After that we had lunch with the crown prince and his family while Adrina sat in the corner with other servants. The crown prince was the same age as me and I had known him before. We used to have the same politics teacher and he would barely pass everytime whereas I was always good at studies. He was nice to me and one of the only kids I played with. When he was younger, he'd often come to play with me and I always ignored Adrina infront of him. But as we grew older, we had to study and learn so, his monthly visits lessened.
"You were so cool today, Caelus! I wish I could fight like you!" Rowan, the crown prince, said putting his arms around my shoulders. "Haha. I expected that guy to be stronger but he turned out to be a mouse. Your friend can do better, Zayden!" I scoffed. Zayden probably didn't care because he had won that competition more than one time when he was my age.
After a lot of chitter chatter at the table, I almost forgot about Adrina. I realised later that i should've begged my father to let her eat with us just for this time. But I was so blinded by my victory that the losses that came afterwards were too much for me to handle.
After I had finished eating, I looked around for Adrina. She was not with the other servants. I described her to one of them and he said that he probably saw her going outside with some guys. I inquired about the guys and he described Rin and his older brother, Lyr who was a maniac. I felt a knot in my throat and dragged my shivering body outside.
I looked around, asked other people but she was nowhere to be found. Someone said that he saw a little girl going towards the forest with some guys. I thought of nothing anymore. I ran and ran until my legs were giving up on me. I turned left, towards an old house that had been abandoned for ages and there she was.
I was almost going to yell her name but something stopped me. I hid behind the tree and saw Adrina standing there with Lyr and some older guys. Rin was nowhere around. He probably sent his little brother away considering what he was gonna do now.
Rin had known that Adrina was the only friend I had. So, after he lost he wanted to do as much damage to me but he couldn't touch me. So, he chose her. He complained about her to his brother and told him that she would do anything for me Or so. This was what Rin told me as he lay dying, five years later.
Lux pulled her hand so that she fell towards him. He pulled her hair and made her lay on the muddy ground as he lifted her skirt. She didn't scream. Not a single word. She tried to pull him away but that was all. I couldn't watch anymore. I felt the food I had just eaten rise towards my mouth. I tried to say something but couldn't. In my cowardice, all I could do was run away. I ran in the opposite direction, as fast as I could. I hoped she didn't see me behind that tree that day. When I saw my mother, I embraced her and vomited. They were all so busy with me that they didn't notice her absence. After I had puked, I wanted to ask my mother for help but I was too late by that time.
She was right there. Her hair messed up, dress all covered in mud and her elbows were terribly bruised. My mother asked her about her state and all she replied was "I fell." while wiping away her tears. I turned my face away, ashamed.
That day of the spring festival was the last time I saw her smiling. She didn't tell anyone about what happened or maybe, no one actually, seriously inquired. She had a terrible fever for an entire week and she started sleeping with my mother because she had recurring nightmares. I decided to think no more of her. The entire week that she was sick, I didn't pay her any visit. Even after she was healthier, I busied myself in my training, my studies and paid no attention to her.
She continued her routine as a slave. If she knew, I was there at that time. She would never talk to me ever again. Or maybe she did. I wasn't sure what to do.
A month went by, she asked me "Why are you acting so cold towards me, Caelus. Did I do anything wrong? Please forgive me." I ignored her and kept on reading.
Those were the last words she said to me. My parents noticed that we had grown distant. So, my father decided that it's the right time to send her back to her own home. My mother didn't protest much for she wasn't sure if it was better for her to live as a slave her entire life or live with her father who abandoned her before.
TWELVE YEARS LATER
After Zayden had abandoned the kingdom for they were not supportive of his marriage with a lower class girl, all the duties that his ancestors previously had towards the kingdom fell on Caelus' shoulders. People soon realised that the new king was not as capable, so Caelus had to bear even more duties. There were much chaos among the people after the king's death and the crowning of the new king. People wanted someone more capable to rule the kingdom but Caelus handled it easily by handling some duties that previously belonged to the king only.
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